On Wednesday, March 8th, Discourse in Democracy hosted the department’s annual Alumni Night. A panel of four alumni shared their post-graduation experiences with an audience of more than 50 students. The alumni discussed their careers and advised attendees on several topics of professional interest, including developing relationships with faculty members, internships, and curating resumes to their benefit.
The panel consisted of the following alumni:
- Brian McConnell, a paralegal in the civil division of the Hays County District Attorney’s Office.
- Alexis Anderson, a talent acquisition officer for the Texas Comptroller Office.
- Buddy Garcia, a former Texas Commission on Environmental Quality member. who currently heads Modern Stewardship, a consulting firm.
- Mariah “Selene” Gonzalez, the Assistant Director of Federal Affairs at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
A question-and-answer session and informal conversations between the students and alumni over refreshments and pizza followed the presentations. Students who attended the event were given department swag which included t-shirts, stress stars, lanyards, and pens.
One graduating student attendee noted that “having an opportunity to speak with individuals who have been in my situation before made me feel much better about my prospects.” Another described the event as “lively and informative” observing that “it was truly inspiring to hear from such a diverse panel of experts.”
